Mikati holds failed talks with Salameh deputies, two may quit Thursday

A meeting Monday between caretaker PM Najib Mikati and the Central Bank’s four vice governors was “not encouraging,” media report said on Tuesday.

“The offer presented by Mikati to them was not tempting: he asked them not to tender their resignations in the next 48 hours while promising to find a way to cover expenditure from the foreign currency reserves, as they had requested in the plan presented to the Administration and Justice Committee,” al-Akhbar newspaper reported.

“Mikati said that he would hold contacts with a number of political forces, especially with (Speaker Nabih) Berri, to explore the possibility that parliament re-look into their request for issuing a law that would cover expenditure from the reserves, stressing that the government would stand by them until the appointment of a new governor,” the daily added.

“Credible sources” meanwhile told al-Joumhouria newspaper that “the resignation option is on the table but it is not final.”

It is “rather conditional on granting First Vice Governor Wassim Mansouri the legal guarantees that enable him to continue the work of the governorship after the end of Salameh’s term,” the sources said.

“This matter is in the hands of the political authority, which has to offer these guarantees,” the sources added.

“Next Thursday will be a heated day during which things might reach the extent of the resignation of First Vice Governor Wassim Mansouri and Second Vice Governor Bashir Yakzan,” the sources added.